Seismic connector with retaining clip

Abstract

A lateral brace for a hanger suspended from a rod for pipes, electric cables or the like, the lateral brace having two, slotted interlocking pieces which interlock when slots open in opposite directions so that the two interlocked pieces can form a hole surrounding the rod and thereby brace it to a structure without removing a hanger from its supporting rod.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device to provide lateral bracing between a support element and a structure, said device comprising a lateral brace extending from said support element toward means to connect said lateral brace to said structure, said lateral brace including a first opening intersecting an edge thereof, said first opening dimensioned to receive and partly surround said support element, a closure element having a second opening intersecting an edge thereof, said second opening dimensioned to receive and partly surround said support element,   first interlocking means on said lateral brace and second interlocking means on said closure element, said first interlocking means being engagable with said second interlocking means to prevent relative motion between said lateral brace and said closure element when said lateral brace opening and said closure element opening are positioned to surround said support element, and   means to hold said lateral brace and said closure element with their respective interlocking means engaged.   
     
     
       2. The device of claim 1 wherein said first opening and said second opening are slots. 
     
     
       3. The device of claim 1 wherein one of said first and second interlocking means is a recess and the other is a projection dimensioned to be received in said recess. 
     
     
       4. The device of claim 1 wherein said means to connect to said structure comprises an element extending from said first surface, upwardly and at an obtuse angle, whereby said device is connectable to a ceiling of said structure. 
     
     
       5. The device of claim 1 wherein said lateral brace comprises a plurality of different interlocking means, said closure element comprises a plurality of different interlocking means, the different interlocking means being engagable when the openings in said lateral brace and said closure element are oriented to surround said support elements.